Automobile-light.



A. L. MGMURTRY.

AUTOMOBILE LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31 1912.

Patented Jul 28, 1914,

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALDEN L. MOMURTRY, OF SOUND BEACH, GQNNECTICUT.

AUTOMOBILE-LIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent. M

Patented J uly 28, 1914.

Application filed August 31, 1912. Serial No. 718,004.

' or lamps which are adapted for use with automobiles, cars, or other reversible motor vehicles.

The object ofmy invention is to provide a lamp of the character above indicated that shall not only be controlled by the operator of the vehicle with which it is associated but be automatically dependent upon the position of the vehicle reversing mechanism.

Automobiles and like vehicles which usually operate in a forward direction have hitherto been provided with a danger signal of some kind, such as red light at the rear, for warning following vehicles. It is however frequently necessary to operate for greater or less distance in a reverse direction and in such cases it is highly desirable to illumine the ath in order to enable the chauffeur or river to avoid dangerous irregularities or obstacles in the way.

According to my invention I provide a search light or other illuminating device which is not intended and does not replace the usual rear end signals but which throws a powerful light to the rear only when the transmission lever or other reversing control handle is thrown to reverse position. The

- rear search light is also dependent upon the switch that controls the other vehicle lamps and consequently is not lighted except when illumination is necessary. v

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a diagrammatic view of a vehicle light; ing system embodying my invention, the vehicle runing gear being shown in outline. Figs. 2 and 3am partial elevations at right angles to each other of the transmission control mechanism of the vehicle of Fig: 1. Fig. 4 is a view corresponding-to Fig. 1 of a modified arrangement which also embodies my invention.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the draw- 'ings, the vehicle here 'Sl'lOWI1 comprises" wheels 1, a motor 2, a transmission gear mechanism 3, a driving shaft 4 and a transmission gear controller 5.

My invention is not limited to any type or structure of vehicle and the above named members are intended to be representative of any well known vehicle parts.

The vehicle is equipped with one or more headlights or lamps 6 which direct light ahead, a tail light or signal 7 and a'searchlight 8 which is adapted to direct its light on the path to the rear under predetermined conditions as hereinafter pointed out. The lamps are of any suitable style or kind and may be supplied with energy from a storage battery 9, or other suitable source, their circuit connections being governed by a switch 10. The lamp 8, which I shall hereinafter refer to as the rearsearch light, may of course be mounted in any suitable position on the vehicle, Its circuit is not only dependent upon the switch 10 which is opened and closed by the chauffeur, but also upon a switch 11 which is closed only when the transmission controller occupies its reverse position.

The transmission controller comprises a lever 12 which is bifurcated at its lower end and supports a pin 13, a shaft 14 having an arm 15 at its inner end, and a member 16 which is secured to the shaft and is rotatively mounted on the pin 13; The lever 12 is limited in its movements by stationary guide members 17 and 18, the member 18 being provided with a slot 19 of H-shape which is engaged by a projection 20 of the forging 16.

The arrangement of-parts is such that the arm 15 engages difierent parts of the transmission gear when the shaft 14 is adjusted longitudinally by a lateral movement of the lever 12, and actuates said parts when the shaft is rotatively adjusted by forward and backward movements of/the lever. Inasmuch as transmission gears, mechanisms and controllers of this'type are well known, I have not illustrated or described them in detail.

The switch 11 may be of any suitable form and comprises as shown stationary contact members 21 and a cooperating movable contact member 22 which is secured to a spring pressed pin 23. The pin extends through one end of the guide member 18 into one branch 24 of the slot- 19 and is so actuated by recte that in daylight when the switch 10 is open" the switch 11 may be closed without affecting the rear search-light and conse uently no ener is wasted although the light is diin the rear when most needed. The system of Fig. 4 difier from that of Fig. 1 only in that a double throw switch 24 is substituted for the switch 11, the arrangement being such. that the circuits for the lamps '6 and 7 are completed except when the transmission controller occupies its vehicle reverse position. By this means the head lamp and rear signal lamp are deenergized when the rear search-light is operating and the light is concentrated where it is most needed. The terms forward and rear are of. course relative and my. invention may be used with a car or truck which is adapted to operate in either direction for indefinite periods. I desire therefore that only such limitations be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

-What I claim is:

1. Ina motor vehicle, a reversing mechanism, a control lever therefor, adapted to 00- cupy a plurality of vehicle forward positions and a vehicle reverse position, a headlight, a rear search-light, and means dependent upon the control lever for supplying energy to the one or the other of the lights, according as the control lever occupies its vehicle forward or its vehicle reverse positions.

2. In a motor vehicle, a reversing mechanism, a'control lever therefor, ada ted to occupy a plurality of vehicle forwar positions anda vehicle reverse position, a tail lamp, a manually operated switch for said lamp, a headlight, a rear search-light, and means controlled by said switch and dependent upon the control lever for supplying energy to either the head light or the rear search light, according as the control lever occupies its vehicle forward or its vehicle reverse positions.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of August 1912.

ALDEN L. McMURTRY. Witnesses:

' G. R. QUIMBY,

ERNEST W. MARSHALL. 

